It’s no secret Murfreesboro is the fastest growing city in Tennessee. It’s home to the state’s largest undergraduate university, has a well-educated workforce, and is home to some of America’s top employers—Amazon.com, State Farm Insurance, Verizon Wireless, General Mills, and Nissan North America to name a few.

So, when Jessica and Matt Shields relocated from Chicago to be closer to family, they couldn’t have picked a better time or place to open their brand new business concept: The Social Chair Blowout Bar. 

What is a blowout bar?

It’s a place where clients can relax, enjoy quality time catching up with friends, and leave feeling beautiful. The Social Chair offers affordable, luxury services such as signature style blowouts, formal updos and makeup application. Their clients enjoy complimentary beverages while talented stylists pamper them. It’s a concept that is sprouting up all over the country.

After Jessica and Matt chose Fountains at Gateway as the location for their new retail business, they needed to hire a local construction company that could take their vision for this high-end space and turn it into a reality—and they needed the contractor to meet a very tight deadline. 

Because Jessica and Matt were relatively new to town, they had no idea where to start.

“We saw that Dow Smith was building the new Tiffany Lane store at Gateway Village,” Jessica said. “Dow’s name ended up being everywhere we looked. Matt contacted him to see how the process works, and we really liked what we heard from Dow and Joey Rhyne. We felt so comfortable getting a quote, and then checked it out with friends who are builders. Everything they said was right on the money.” 

Jessica and Matt chose a local interior designer, Lori Sain Smith of Daffodilly Design. Lori worked with their ideas and their vision to produce a blend of rustic sophistication and timelessness. Using a variety of materials, they created a beautiful setting for their clients. 

The Social Chair’s interior is completely custom—from the decor to the furnishings to the cabinetry. Jessica and Matt looked at pre-fab materials and equipment and just weren’t satisfied. They felt their brand needed to be unique, and “off-the-shelf” furnishings wouldn’t live up to that. That caused some major delays, but Project Manager Joey Rhyne, Superintendent Gary Grisham and the custom cabinet builders got it done. 

The space includes a barnboard wall created in a herringbone pattern, custom industrial cabinetry, white leather and mirrors, which taken together creates a very clean look throughout. Lori added polished metals and keyed on the lighting and countertops to create the unique look. 

“Tight deadline, custom work…these are challenges we enjoy in a tenant build-out and we have no problem accomplishing them,” says Dow Smith.

Dow adds “We were able to complete the project in just a few short months. We find a way to make it happen for our clients, within budget, with the quality they want, and on time. That’s just how we operate. The Shields were surprised, because they said you can’t count on that in any industry, but it’s routine for us.”

“Their timeliness and responsiveness was exceptional. We couldn’t have been happier with them, every step of the way,” adds Jessica. We wish Jessica, Matt and The Social Chair every success as they blow away Murfreesboro!